Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 10:3
Dedicated to Service
Esther 10:3
"For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his kindred."
Dedicated to Service
John Brodie, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, was once asked why a million-dollar player such as he should have to hold the ball for field goals and extra-points attempts. "Well," said Brodie, "if I didn't, it would fall over." There is something appealing about this kind of humility in service. We see in it a reflection of true greatness.
Mordecai had this kind of appeal as well. He became great among his people, but not because he held a position second only to the king. He was well received by the multitude, but not because he was rich or related to the queen. Mordecai's true greatness came because he had a heart dedicated to service. The wicked Haman had used his office to promote himself; Mordecai used his position to bring good to his people.
Throughout history, greatness has been associated with unselfish service. When H. M. Stanley went to Africa in 1871 to find David Livingstone, he found Livingstone engaged in untiring service for those whom he had no reason to love except for Christ's sake. Stanley wrote in his journal, "When I saw that unwearied patience, that unflagging zeal and those enlightened sons of Africa, I became a Christian at his side, though he never spoke to me one word."
While the world may never classify you as a John Brodie the quarterback, a Mordecai the Jew or a David Livingstone the missionary, you can still be great with God. Find the place He would have you serve, and serve Him until you die.
It's not important how many people you lead, but how many you serve.
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 8:1 Joshua 7:24-25 Joshua 7:5-7
It Only Hurts Me
Joshua 7:11-12
"Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you."
It Only Hurts Me
We never sin alone. A study of 8,415 adults revealed that those exposed to secondhand smoke experienced a 10 percent increase in the thickening of their carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Thickening of the carotid arteries is a major cause of strokes. Other statistics indicate that drug and alcohol abuse is costing businesses more than $60 billion a year in absenteeism, workplace accidents, higher insurance costs, waste and low productivity. This cost is passed on to consumers in the prices of goods and services.
Achan may have thought that his sin affected only him. Yet when Joshua went before the Lord to find out why his army had been defeated at Ai, God said, "Israel sinned." Achan's sin caused grief to Joshua (vv. 6-7), to the families of the 36 men struck down at Ai (v. 5) and especially to his own family (vv. 24-25). Achan's sin not only hurt him, but everyone around him.
People still excuse their sin by saying, "It doesn't hurt anyone but me." But the facts prove otherwise. Sin hurts everybody either directly or indirectly. A study claimed that a New York City subway token, which costs $1.25, would cost only $1.19 if no one evaded fares. The cost of a property-casualty policy costs $600, but if no one committed fraud, it would be $540. A spreadsheet software package costs $495, but if no one pirated programs, it would only be $322.
The next time Satan encourages you to sin, just remember that you won't be the only one who gets hurt. Sin hurts all of us.
Satan is the only one who comes out ahead when we sin.